Also, the sun rises and the sun sets;
And hastening to its place it rises there again.
Blowing toward the south,
Then turning toward the north,
The wind continues swirling along;
And on its circular courses the wind returns.
All the rivers flow into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow,
There they flow again.
All things are wearisome;
Man is not able to tell it.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor is the ear filled with hearing.
That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun.
- Ecclesiastes 1:5-9
Solomon seems to be releasing a sigh of frustration. Life seems to go round and round much like a wheel. Sometimes you are up, sometimes you are down.
I could almost hear him say, “I have lived long enough to see with my own eyes that situations repeat itself.
“It is like a never ending cycle. I may have a lot of experience but it is not something I am proud of because there is really nothing much. In fact, all these experiences are frustrating rather than exhilarating.
“Therefore the only advantage of the number of years is that I have seen things go in circles enough to know what little life offers if not lived with reverence for God.”
It is a romanticists dream to live and die in a ripe old age, fully satisfied with life. Perhaps there are a few who attain it but the reality is still that such is not the case for many.
Once we were young then we will grow old. Once we were the object of concern then we become the ones who give concern. Once we were taken cared of as babes then we will be taken cared of as old people. Once we were strong and fast then we will become weak and slow. Once we dreamed of what could be then we will reflect on what could have been.
Life will always have frustrations either with ourselves or involving others. Some relationships do well, others go sour. Some remain forever, others stay just for a while. Some are pleasant, others are unpleasant.
That’s the way it is. It has been that way and it will always be – some are worth celebrating, others not worth mentioning.
We can try to rise above it and focus on the positive but it will not remove the fact that that is life for us.
For me, I lay my head on the pillow and thank God for whatever situation, both those I can change and those I cannot. I pray for wisdom to do the right actions in those I can change then surrender the rest to Him.
I accept my lot on earth, my role in His plan. It may not be always what I want. It will never be 100% ideal compared to what I think but I will be content. I know that He knows best, therefore, in some way I will be happy and not frustrated.
By Ed Pilapil Jr. ©
Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)
